While studying towards a BCom Entrepreneurship degree at the University of Johannesburg Eilertsen realised that you can only really grasp the theory of business with practical experience. “I created this pamphlet that said ‘My name is Mike Eilertsen and the only way to study is to really learn it first-hand. As I’m learning these lessons, I’m going to pass them on to you”. The pamphlet led to priceless engagement from prospective clients.

Step 2: Grow the idea

“You spot an opportunity, you are an opportunist, but you don’t simply settle for selling the stuff on the side of the road…”

A basic entrepreneurial rule is to continually look for a gap in the market and to fill it.

“Someone who ordered breakfasts from me SMSed me one day and said, listen, we need to have coffee as well. So I started looking into that idea.”

Eilertsen then combined coffee with his product mix by purchasing 12 Nestlé coffee backpacks. The approach really started taking off once Eilertsen bought the rights to the “Rocket Man” rucksacks and “Major Tom” packs for beer. “By 2004 we were in each cricket stadium in the country,” possesses Elertsen.

Step 3: Make more mistakes.

“By the age of 25, I was in R7-million debt…”After dropping out of the University of Johannesburg to pursue his business interests, Eilersten sold his backpack company Boiling Point and branched out into an industry he knew emptiness about.

According to online magazine Entrepreneur, Eilertsen launched his magazine and publishing company with R980 000 and had to re-mortgage his house to keep the business going. In less than a year he was R7-million in debt. “I was overspending, and I wasn’t being told about cash flow projections and budgets.”

Eilertsen now advises any start-up company to prioritise bookkeeping by hiring an accountant.

His way of doing business is risky but rewarding. “Would-be entrepreneurs in South Africa often misunderstand,” says Eilertsen. “They think that they need an excellent business plan and a loan. No. You need to determine how much money you have available and then find opportunities that fit with what you have.”

Eilersten says the advantage of entrepreneurialism in Africa is that there is less competition, making it “a playground for an opportunity”.

Unknown

Steps To Become the person you want to be in life is in your hands, Business, Education Money, Career